474 research outputs found
Process of image super-resolution
In this paper we explain a process of super-resolution reconstruction
allowing to increase the resolution of an image.The need for high-resolution
digital images exists in diverse domains, for example the medical and spatial
domains. The obtaining of high-resolution digital images can be made at the
time of the shooting, but it is often synonymic of important costs because of
the necessary material to avoid such costs, it is known how to use methods of
super-resolution reconstruction, consisting from one or several low resolution
images to obtain a high-resolution image. The american patent US 9208537
describes such an algorithm. A zone of one low-resolution image is isolated and
categorized according to the information contained in pixels forming the
borders of the zone. The category of it zone determines the type of
interpolation used to add pixels in aforementioned zone, to increase the
neatness of the images. It is also known how to reconstruct a low-resolution
image there high-resolution image by using a model of super-resolution
reconstruction whose learning is based on networks of neurons and on image or a
picture library. The demand of chinese patent CN 107563965 and the scientist
publication "Pixel Recursive Super Resolution", R. Dahl, M. Norouzi, J. Shlens
propose such methods. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that it is
possible to reconstruct coherent human faces from very degraded pixelated
images with a very fast algorithm, more faster than compressed sensing (CS),
easier to compute and without deep learning, so without important technology
resources, i.e. a large database of thousands training images (see
arXiv:2003.13063).
This technological breakthrough has been patented in 2018 with the demand of
French patent FR 1855485 (https://patents.google.com/patent/FR3082980A1, see
the HAL reference https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01875898v1).Comment: 19 pages, 10 figure
IVOA Recommendation: IVOA Photometry Data Model
The Photometry Data Model (PhotDM) standard describes photometry filters,
photometric systems, magnitude systems, zero points and its interrelation with
the other IVOA data models through a simple data model. Particular attention is
given necessarily to optical photometry where specifications of magnitude
systems and photometric zero points are required to convert photometric
measurements into physical flux density units
Challenges and Innovative Technologies On Fuel Handling Systems for Future Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors
International audienceThe reactor refuelling system provides the means of transporting, storing, and handling reactor core subassemblies. The system consists of the facilities and equipment needed to accomplish the scheduled refuelling operations. The choice of a FHS impacts directly on the general design of the reactor vessel (primary vessel, storage, and final cooling before going to reprocessing), its construction cost, and its availability factor. Fuel handling design must take into account various items and in particular operating strategies such as core design and management and core configuration. Moreover, the FHS will have to cope with safety assessments: a permanent cooling strategy to prevent fuel clad rupture, plus provisions to handle short-cooled fuel and criteria to ensure safety during handling. In addition, the handling and elimination of residual sodium must be investigated; it implies specific cleaning treatment to prevent chemical risks such as corrosion or excess hydrogen production. The objective of this study is to identify the challenges of a SFR fuel handling system. It will then present the range of technical options incorporating innovative technologies under development to answer the GENERATION IV SFR requirements
Software engineering whispers: The effect of textual vs. graphical software design descriptions on software design communication
Context:\ua0Software\ua0engineering\ua0is a social and collaborative activity. Communicating and sharing knowledge between\ua0software\ua0developers requires much effort. Hence, the quality of\ua0communication\ua0plays an important role in influencing project success. To better understand the\ua0effect\ua0of\ua0communication\ua0on project success, more in-depth empirical studies investigating this phenomenon are needed. Objective: We investigate the\ua0effect\ua0of using a\ua0graphical\ua0versus\ua0textual\ua0design\ua0description\ua0on co-located\ua0software\ua0design\ua0communication. Method: Therefore, we conducted a family of experiments involving a mix of 240\ua0software\ua0engineering\ua0students from four universities. We examined how different\ua0design\ua0representations (i.e.,\ua0graphical\ua0vs.\ua0textual) affect the ability to Explain, Understand, Recall, and Actively Communicate knowledge. Results: We found that the\ua0graphical\ua0design\ua0description\ua0is better than the\ua0textual\ua0in promoting Active Discussion between developers and improving the Recall of\ua0design\ua0details. Furthermore, compared to its unaltered version, a well-organized and motivated\ua0textual\ua0design\ua0description–that is used for the same amount of time–enhances the recall of\ua0design\ua0details and increases the amount of active discussions at the cost of reducing the perceived quality of explaining
Patterns of progressive atrophy vary with age in Alzheimer's disease patients.
Age is not only the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) but also a key modifier of disease presentation and progression. Here, we investigate how longitudinal atrophy patterns vary with age in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. Data comprised serial longitudinal 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging scans from 153 AD, 339 MCI, and 191 control subjects. Voxel-wise maps of longitudinal volume change were obtained and aligned across subjects. Local volume change was then modeled in terms of diagnostic group and an interaction between group and age, adjusted for total intracranial volume, white-matter hyperintensity volume, and apolipoprotein E genotype. Results were significant at p < 0.05 with family-wise error correction for multiple comparisons. An age-by-group interaction revealed that younger AD patients had significantly faster atrophy rates in the bilateral precuneus, parietal, and superior temporal lobes. These results suggest younger AD patients have predominantly posterior progressive atrophy, unexplained by white-matter hyperintensity, apolipoprotein E, or total intracranial volume. Clinical trials may benefit from adapting outcome measures for patient groups with lower average ages, to capture progressive atrophy in posterior cortices
The impact of human activities and lifestyles on the interlinked microbiota and health of humans and of ecosystems
Plants, animals and humans, are colonized by microorganisms (microbiota) and transiently exposed to countless others. The microbiota affects the development and function of essentially all organ systems, and contributes to adaptation and evolution, while protecting against pathogenic microorganisms and toxins. Genetics and lifestyle factors, including diet, antibiotics and other drugs, and exposure to the natural environment, affect the composition of the microbiota, which influences host health through modulation of interrelated physiological systems. These include immune system development and regulation, metabolic and endocrine pathways, brain function and epigenetic modification of the genome. Importantly, parental microbiotas have transgenerational impacts on the health of progeny. Humans, animals and plants share similar relationships with microbes. Research paradigms from humans and other mammals, amphibians, insects, planktonic crustaceans and plants demonstrate the influence of environmental microbial ecosystems on the microbiota and health of organisms, and indicate links between environmental and internal microbial diversity and good health. Therefore, overlapping compositions, and interconnected roles of microbes in human, animal and plant health should be considered within the broader context of terrestrial and aquatic microbial ecosystems that are challenged by the human lifestyle and by agricultural and industrial activities. Here, we propose research priorities and organizational, educational and administrative measures that will help to identify safe microbe-associated health-promoting modalities and practices. In the spirit of an expanding version of "One health" that includes environmental health and its relation to human cultures and habits (EcoHealth), we urge that the lifestyle-microbiota-human health nexus be taken into account in societal decision making. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe
Evidence of a causal and modifiable relationship between kidney function and circulating trimethylamine N-oxide
The host-microbiota co-metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is linked to increased cardiovascular risk but how its circulating levels are regulated remains unclear. We applied "explainable" machine learning, univariate, multivariate and mediation analyses of fasting plasma TMAO concentration and a multitude of phenotypes in 1,741 adult Europeans of the MetaCardis study. Here we show that next to age, kidney function is the primary variable predicting circulating TMAO, with microbiota composition and diet playing minor, albeit significant, roles. Mediation analysis suggests a causal relationship between TMAO and kidney function that we corroborate in preclinical models where TMAO exposure increases kidney scarring. Consistent with our findings, patients receiving glucose-lowering drugs with reno-protective properties have significantly lower circulating TMAO when compared to propensity-score matched control individuals. Our analyses uncover a bidirectional relationship between kidney function and TMAO that can potentially be modified by reno-protective anti-diabetic drugs and suggest a clinically actionable intervention for decreasing TMAO-associated excess cardiovascular risk
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